Orders Of Protection Issued Against Mamaroneck Woman Charged In Son’s Death

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MAMARONECK, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) – A judge has issued orders of protection against a Mamaroneck woman charged in the death of her 4-year-old son.

Manuela Maria Morgado is now prohibited from using any method to contact the boy’s father, Dr. Timothy Reish, and his wife. Prosecutors said the couple had received threatening letters, though did not specify who made the threats.

Morgado kept her head down and spoke in a whisper during the court appearance, WCBS 880’s Sean Adams reported. She was briefly released from handcuffs to sign the orders.

Morgado was arrested Monday for second-degree murder after her 4-year-old son Jason “Jake” Reish was found dead inside her Mamaroneck condo. She was said to be in a near catatonic state and semi-conscious at the time Jake’s body was discovered.

Reish and Morgado, who were never married, were involved in a custody dispute over where to send Jake to preschool.

Dennis Light, Morgado’s lawyer in the custody matter, said Morgado was frustrated when a judge ruled that her son should go to school in Briarcliff Manor. He said Morgado wanted him to go school in Mamaroneck.

“But there was nothing that would make you think something like this would happen,” he said.

Autopsy results are still pending, but law enforcement sources told CBS 2 the child may have been suffocated.

Defense attorney Max diFabio, who has taken himself off the case due to a conflict, said Morgado is shattered.

“Ms. Morgado is very upset at this time — very, very upset, as you can imagine. This is traumatic in every respect and she grieves for the loss of her child, the loss of her world,” he said Thursday outside the courthouse. “It’s a time for mourning for our community and all concerned.”

Morgado is now being represented by public defender Harvey Loeb, who objected to a psychological evaluation.

The boy’s funeral will be held Friday in Briarcliff Manor.

Morgado is due back in court next week. She faces 25 years to life in prison if convicted.